As 2009 draws to a close, we are reminded of world, national and celebrity events that topped the news over the past 12 months. These stories include: the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the swine flu scare, big businesses trying to stay afloat (and some not succeeding), and the death of such celebrity icons as Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze and Farrah Fawcett. Celebrity infidelities by Tiger Woods and John Goslin were also splattered across the entertainment news headlines.

State stories that topped the headlines in 2009 included the passing of both Oklahoma native and broadcast pioneer Paul Harvey and former Gov. Henry Bellmon, an Oklahoma City pharmacist who gunned down an unarmed 16-year-old during a robbery attempt and was later charged with first-degree murder, the killing of Pastor Carol Daniels whose body was found at her church in Anadarko, the Feed the Children founder, Larry Jones being fired, and on the stranger side of the news, an elephant that escaped from a circus and was struck by a passing motorist in Enid. The most recent news headlines across the state involved the Christmas blizzard that covered Oklahoma with ice and snow.

JANUARY:

In local and area news, the year started off, and ended with, Quartz Mountain Aerospace news. In January, First National Bank in Altus filed a lawsuit against Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. (formerly Luscombe), in Jackson County District Court seeking foreclosure action against the aircraft corporation in connection with loans of $250,000 in 2005 and $200,000 in 2006. Other QMA headlines made the news throughout the year - including the doors being closed for good. QMA filed for bankruptcy protection in October, and just days before Christmas, representatives for QMA were in bankruptcy court to address questions. It was said that lien holders including the City of Altus, First National Bank and the Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority would be the first in line to collect payment after the company's assets were liquidated. Those being paid next would be investors, employees and contractors. A public auction is set for March 2010. In June, with almost $162,000 owed in back utilities, fees and penalties, power was shut off at the facility.

January 2009 also saw the Altus City Council make application to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission for a total of a quarter of a million dollars with $230,000 for property acquisition adjacent to Altus Air Force Base and $20,000 for mission support and aircrew recruitment. Provisions also provided for 10 per cent or $25,000 in matching funds from the City and seeking assistance from the Altus Municipal Authority for the land purchase and matching funds.

Keveon Amir Johnson was the first baby born in Jackson County in 2009. He arrived Monday, Jan. 5 at 12:39 p.m. at Jackson County Memorial Hospital to Katarah and Patrick Johnson of Altus Air Force Base. Keveon weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz. and was 19” long.

The local Goody's store was the first in a long line of struggling businesses in 2009 that made headlines. The chain closed all stores and liquidated all merchandise in beginning in January.

January also saw Southwest Oklahoma agencies fanned out across three counties making arrests and serving search warrants on various narcotics charges. The arrests were the culmination of a six-month long investigation spearheaded by the District Three DA Drug Task Force and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

Janice Pellam, an Altus High School English teacher, was announced as “Altus Teacher of the Year” for 2009.

FEBRUARY:

The 39th annual Miss Altus Scholarship Pageant, sponsored by the Delta Eta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, was held in February with Emily Beanland being crowned Miss Altus 2009. Also receiving a crown in February was Allison Meeks who was crowned WOSC basketball Homecoming Queen. Colin Lowe was crowned Homecoming King.

Races developed in February for Altus City Council seats. When the dust settled, all incumbent councilmen up for re-election were replaced in April. In Ward I, Rick Henry won over City councilman David Webb; in Ward II, incumbent Bob Beers was replaced by Scot Simco; Ward III found incumbent Don Jouett being ousted by Perry Shelton and in Ward IV, Dean Garrett’s seat, who was challenged by June Knight and Jack Smiley, saw Smiley get the nod.

MARCH:

Citing hazardous lending, inadequate capital and earnings, and an excessive level of bad loans, the First State Bank in Altus was placed under state and federal supervision. The bank was later shut down by regulators and later reopened under Herring Bank of Amarillo, Texas, who assumed all of the deposits of First State Bank of Altus. They kept the name First State Bank of Altus and named longtime Altus banker Larry McLaughlin as the branch President.

March was also the month a feud began over a City-owned hangar. Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport’s large Hangar 33 sold to Southwest Technology Center for $1 million for use as a “Grow Your Own Mechanic” classroom to train a steady stream of aviation technicians for the civilian A-Team at Altus Air Force Base. A taxpayer demand letter was submitted to City Attorney Catherine Coke in July over the sale of the hangar. The letter, signed by 15 residents, said the hanger was "unlawfully sold." The City Council responded to the demand “Declaratory Judgment” at their next meeting, but the taxpayer group apparently decided that the City’s response was not adequate and then filed a petition alleging that the City failed to honor the taxpayer’s request to rescind the sale. In court Sept. 1, the taxpayer demand letter and suit was dismissed, but it was noted that the issues involved could be raised again.

March also saw two new elementary school principals named: Sheryl Anderson, a teacher at Roosevelt Elementary, and Debbie Nobles of Will Rogers Elementary. In other school news, Sunset Elementary School Principal Mark Whitlock was named as the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s administrator of the year.

The Jackson County Junior Livestock Show was held in March with approximately 400 animals entered, 70 animals of which were in the premium auction which raised over $211,441 in premiums for the youth of Jackson County.

Although the Christmas 2009 blizzard is the freshest reminder of snow for Altus, the area was surprised with a spring storm in March that dumped 3 inches of the white fluffy stuff.

An Oklahoma Centennial Farm Award has been presented to the owner of a Jackson County farm, it was announced by Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Melvena Heisch.

Anna Mae Alexander was recognized in March by the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture for owning a farm that have been in her family for at least 100 years. Anna Mae Alexander owns the Alexander Farm located southeast of Altus. The family has grown wheat and run a cow-calf operation since the family homesteaded the property in 1908.

APRIL:

It was announced in April that Bob Drury, Superintendent of Altus Public Schools, was named District #13 2009 Superintendent of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA). Drury was one of 20 administrators in Oklahoma selected for this prestigious honor.

Citizens in Altus organized a TEA party at the Gazebo in the Altus City Park to let our government representatives know that they think we are Taxed Enough Already. The TEA Party is part of a national movement to protest the spending of trillions of dollars. Over 1,500 cities hosted similar TEA parties.

A special meeting of the Altus City Council was held in April to receive architectural plans for the new municipal and police services complex being funded through MAPS tax money. The new complex is currently well under way in construction on South Main Street.

Sworn-in by Judge Ken Darby, the newly-elected Altus City Councilmen Perry Shelton, Rick Henry, Scot Simco and Jack Smiley officially took their seats on the panel during a special meeting of the City Council.

April saw two fatality accidents in one day, one in which a father and three children died west of Altus, and another near Mangum in which a woman was thrown from a van.

According to reports, the first accident happened when Richard Allen Flood, 44, of Olustee, failed to yield at a stop sign and pulled out in front of a semi truck driven by Darryl Dean Ruth, 52, of Elgin. Ruth struck the driver’s side of the Flood vehicle.

Pronounced dead at the scene were Flood and his three children, Stephen Flood, 9; Jeremiah (Micah) Flood, 8; and Joshua Flood, 5. The mother, Ruby Flood, 39, who was also a passenger in the vehicle, was transported to the OU Medical Center by Air-Evac in critical condition with head and internal injuries. The driver of the truck refused treatment at the scene. In a separate accident later that day, Jose Acuna, 58, of Orange Grove, Texas, was traveling eastbound on US 283 one mile east of Mangum, when he departed the roadway to the right and then over corrected, causing his vehicle to overturn one time, ejecting a passenger, Paula Mendoza, 63, of Mathis, Texas, from the vehicle from the rear passenger window. She was pronounced dead at the scene from head injuries.

The vehicle overturned again, crushing Mendoza and ejecting another passenger, Lisa Lopez, 21, also of Orange Grove, from the vehicle through the rear passenger window.

MAY:

Despite cold and rainy conditions, Main Street Altus’ Rock-N-Rumble Car Show & Cruise was held as planned with Kae Myers of Altus winning the Best of Show trophy and a check for $1,000.

It was announced in May that Altus Fire Capt. Neil Bonds graduated from the 14-week C.L.E.E.T. training academy, becoming the first C.L.E.E.T.-certified fire marshal in the history of the Altus Fire Department.

The Top 10 seniors were recognized and presented with their awards at the Altus High School Senior Scholarship Assembly in May. They were Sara E. Baker - Valedictorian; Julianne E. Lee - Valedictorian; Malorie D. Vaughan - Valedictorian; Jake R. Warren - Valedictorian; Mariz Escobar - Salutatorian; Fallon Fausch, Madison P. Long, Laura L. Lopez, Michael R. Knight and Micah P. Webb.

May ended with a tragic murder/robbery of an Altus man. It wasn't until December that trial dates were set for the suspects.

JUNE:

June was the first public announcement about the future of the Museum of the Western Prairie. Cuts to the budget of the Oklahoma Historical Society, which operates the facility, questioned the future of the museum. The museum closed nearly two years ago to remove asbestos in the original part of the building, but the process caused significant damage to approximately half of the museum, destroying most of the exhibit spaces. Since that time local efforts have begun to get the museum up and open again.

JULY:

Col. Jon T. Thomas took command of the 97th Air Mobility Wing from Col. David W. Allvin in a July ceremony at the new Wings of Freedom Park at Altus Air Force Base. The ceremony was presided over by Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, commander of the 19th Air Force at Randolph Air Force Base,Texas. Thomas is the former commander of the 86th Operations Group at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. Allvin has commanded the Altus wing for the past two years.

Also in July, several local and area businesses were hit with thousands of dollars in fake payroll checks.

Ashley Wheeler, a Junior at Navajo High School, was crowned Miss Altus Outstanding Teen 2010 in July. She is the 16 year-old daughter of J.R. and Melanie Wheeler of Altus. 

AUGUST:

The Firefighter Combat Challenge, Regional Firefighter Competition, was held in Altus this past August hosted by the firefighters of Altus Fire Department as Team Dr. Pepper. Team Dr. Pepper hosted the event last year which drew huge crowds. The Firefighter Combat Challenge is an event held throughout the United States where firefighters compete in fire/rescue related events. The Firefighter Combat Challenge events are based on duties firefighters have to do when fighting a fire.

Also in August, Dixie Greene, the 14-year-old daughter of Lorne & Bobbi Greene, was crowned Princess at the Great Plains Stampede Rodeo. Winning the title of Rodeo Queen was Sierra Thompson, the 17-year-old daughter of Robert and Alicia Thompson.

In late August it was announced that owners and operators of Wilmes Superstore and Wilmes Chevrolet, respectively, received Ford’s approval to purchase the Wilmes Ford Lincoln Mercury AutoMall in Altus from their father Paul Wilmes and brother Scott Wilmes. They also announced their transition plans, which include relocating the Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership and changes to their General Motors dealerships.

SEPTEMBER:

September started off with the sale of tickets for the 101st annual Altus Chamber of Commerce banquet, and the announcement that cotton crops were looking good.

Joshua Lusk, 24, appeared before Judge Darby in Jackson County District Court on Sept. 1, and plead not guilty to murder. Lusk is the former Fort Sill soldier who was arrested for murdering Andrew Russell White, owner of Dub’s Bar south of Eldorado. Lusk had confessed during questioning of killing White who was found shot in the back of the head at the bar. Robbery was said to be the motive in the killing.

Altus Police worked on a joint larceny of property case with Altus Air Force Base OSI officials in September after someone reported unusual activity around the base housing construction area. Upon investigation, one of the people on the site, James Luther Cowan, 55, was found to have drugs and drug paraphernalia and was arrested by Altus Police. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department assisted in an investigation later in connection with the incident that resulted in the recovery of thousands of dollars in property from the housing project. Items recovered included both new and used air conditioning units, appliances, carpeting and doors, and were found in a barn north of Altus.

The seven percent raise for 5 Jackson County department heads and 37 county employees that was proposed to the Jackson County Excise Board in September didn't happen. Board members decided that the county’s 138 employees would get a $1,000 stipend during the holidays instead.

Local radio personality Eddie D. Wilcoxen, author of numerous books of poetry, was the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma Literacy Coalition’s 24th State Conference in Norman in September.

OCTOBER:

Oct. 1 saw Jackson County Memorial Hospital celebrate its 60th anniversary (1949-2009).

One of Main Street Altus' many downtown activities, the Cotton Pickin' Chili Cookoff, was held in October with Rebecca Edwards winning the Grand Champion Chili prize. Jim Gover won the Barbecue Division, and Lisa Worrell won the Salsa contest. The Chili Cookoff was one of the featured events in the current "Oklahoma Today" magazine that hit stands this past week. Main Street also sponsors the "Walkin' on Chalk" and annual car show and cruise.

Altus and Jackson County received their first doses of the H1N1 vaccine in October. The first doses went to school children, and multiple public clinics have been held since.

Altus High held their Homecoming King and Queen ceremony during half time of the Western Heights football game in October. Crowned Homecoming Queen was Shelby Renee Bailey, daughter of John Bailey and Beverly Comeaux. Homecoming King was Tim Paul Sanchez, son of Craig Paul Sanchez and Shannon Wood.

Traffic safety was the topic of a town meeting in October after a man in a wheelchair was hit by a school bus. Police vowed to take extra measures for public safety.

Altus launched "Blackboard Connect" to improve emergency preparedness and communication in October. The system enables emergency officials to call everyone in Altus at the same time with important messages.

Seven months had passed since the Altus Correctional Facilities Authority was formed, and progress on the issue to bring a 1,000 bed private prison to Altus was still up in the air in October. Although the City of Altus was initially part of the project, Mayor T.L. Gramling said earlier this week that they were no longer involved.

On a positive note, the Altus Firefighters Dr. Pepper Over 40 Relay team was named the National Champions at the SCOTT Firefigher Combat Challenge in Arlington, Texas. The Altus team won by .11 seconds over the Air Force Academy team.

NOVEMBER:

November started off with the Altus Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors joining Western Oklahoma State College, local and state government officials for the dedicaton of the new WOSC Cooperative Higher Education and Training Facility.

There was excitement in the air as about 40 residents of the Altus area gathered for an Altus AFB pre-flight briefing for the Farm City Orientation Flight on Nov. 5. There were a mix of farmers, teachers and merchants with different backgrounds and interests, but for 3 hours they were united in a goal to learn about the KC-135 mission. The Farm City Week activities started with farm tours and ended with a banquet.

Gov. Brad Henry ordered all flags on state property to be flown at half-staff in October to honor the victims of the deadly shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Among the victims was Army Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, a 22-year-old Frederick soldier whose family is from Tipton. He is survived by his mother Gale Hunt, father Gary Hunt, sister Leila Hunt Willingham, a niece and nephew, and his wife Jennifer Morgan Hunt. He is also the son-in-law of Greg Morgan and wife Candy Morgan who is an Altus school teacher, and the brother of former Miss Altus Leila Hunt.

The pilot and an Altus teen died in a plane crash late Sunday morning, Nov. 8. Robert Munson, 38, and Zachary Cook, 17, both of Altus, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office after a small aircraft crashed and caught fire about a mile west of the municipal airport. The 2001 Skybolt experimental aircraft, being flown by Munson, took off from Quartz Mountain Regional Airport about 11:19 a.m. and the accident was reported about 10 minutes later.

Sedrick Sanders, 31, Patrick Robinson, 27, and Michelle Calvert, 34, all of Altus, were present Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse for their preliminary hearings in the May murder/robbery case of Altus man, Hai Phan. On Dec. 1, Dominique Lindsey and Marquis Dorsey, both of Altus, were formally arraigned for their involvements. Lindsey, 22, is being held for conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. Dorsey, 24, is accused of felony murder of Phan and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. Both Lindsey and Dorsey are scheduled on the pre-trial docket for March 12.

C. Kendric Fergeson of Altus was among the seven outstanding Oklahomans who were inducted into the 82nd class of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in November.

Bids were awarded in November for work on a new wing at Altus High School. The project is being funded through the MAPS sales tax that is also helping to pay for the Altus Municipal Complex on South Main.

Bids awarded were for the demolition and site clearing, earthwork and utilities. Work began at the start of Christmas break and completion of the entire project, including the development of a new library and media center, is expected to be by 2012. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in December.

DECEMBER:

Separate formal arraignments for Sedrick Sanders and Patrick Robinson were held at the Jackson County Courthouse in early December. Sanders and Robinson are suspects in the May 31 robbery and murder case of Altus man Hai Phan. During Sanders' arraignment, his attorney announced that he is pleading "not guilty." Judge Clark Huey set his pre-trial date for March 12, at 1:30 p.m. Sander's attorney also said she intended to file a motion to sever. That action, if taken, would mean that Sanders would have a separate trial from the other defendants. Judge Huey said that any motions regarding Sanders' trial will be heard on Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. Patrick Robinson's counsel entered a "not guilty" plea and stated that Robinson wishes a jury trial. Robinson's pre-trial date is March 12, at 1:30 p.m, but any motions regarding Robinson's trial will be presented Feb. 3, at 3 p.m. Actual trial dates will be scheduled for April, May and June, depending on how many trials will take place, according to Judge Huey.

No races developed for school board seats by the close of the filing period in December. Although other area districts will have elections in February, Jackson County will not. In Jackson County, incumbents filing were John Thomas in Altus; Dusty Tutten in Blair; Roger Herron in Duke; Kevin Hill in Eldorado; Jackie Kenmore for the Office No. 3, three-year term in Eldorado; John D. Butchee in Navajo; Don Moody in Olustee; and Jeff Mark Nichols, Southwest Technology Center, Zone 1.

The old Jackson County Jail, on the west side of the courthouse in downtown Altus, has been dismantled and the debris hauled away. Selected parts stipulated by the County Commissioners were saved. According to Commissioner Anthony Fixico, the area occupied by the jail will be filled in with dirt and planted with grass. In the distant future there is a possibility that the area may be room for expansion of the County Courthouse.

Flood plain data was given at a December County Commissioners' meeting with the City and county urged to protest new FEMA mapping of Jackson County area.

Jonathan Hazelwood of Altus claims the top $10,000 prize in the Main Street Altus' Candy Cane Cash promotion.

Altus and area residents awoke to a white Christmas Eve this year as a storm front brought a freezing rain, sleet and snow mix into the state. Due to high winds and ice, both power lines and feeder lines were broken, leaving most of Altus without power. Some outages were reported as early at 4 a.m. with most outages occurring around 6 to 7 a.m. Some areas in northwest Altus never experienced a power outage.

Heartland Publications, the parent company of the Altus Times and the Frederick Leader, announced this week that Dan Taylor had been named publisher of the Altus Times. Taylor comes to Altus from the Graham Leader in Graham, Texas, where he has been the advertising director since 1997.

The last of the top headlines for Altus in 2009 included Bob Stephenson, Public Works Director, giving a preliminary report on the safety inspection and remediation program for the Lugert-Altus water project. This ambitious water project includes the Altus Dam, Lake Altus (the reservoir for the project), 5 earthen dikes, 4 canals (Main, Altus, West and Ozark), and a 221-mile water distribution system with 26 miles of drains. The Board of Reclamation will be giving the city a list of repairs needed on the dam spillways and dikes. These changes will be required for more stringent flood standards. The list is expected within 2 years.

SPORTS:

There’s no question what the top sports story was in the Altus area for 2009: WOSC baseball. For the second year in a row the top story is the Western Oklahoma State College Pioneers baseball team. For the second straight year Coach Kurt Russell’s club qualified for the Division II National Junior College World Series.

The team knocked off third-ranked Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa in the first round of the tournament which was played before a packed house at David Allen Memorial Ball Park in Enid.

However, the Pioneers lost to top ranked LSU-Eunice and to second ranked Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Ala.

Western finished with a 53-12 record.

Former Altus High School football standout was signed by the San Diego Chargers in the middle of the 2009 season. Holt had been on the practice squad. He is a back up linebacker and has played on special teams for the second-half of the season.

Other top local sports stories included the Altus High School wrestling qualifying for the state dual tournament. The Bulldogs were defeated by Claremore in the first round.

Altus High Head Baseball Coach James Rubi resigned the position following the 2009 season. His successor is Joe Johnson who served as assistant to Rubi for the past several seasons.